Gyroscopic steering-gear for torpedoes.



No. 89 1,838 PATENTBD AUG. 4, 1908.

v F. M. LEAVITT. GYROSGOPIG STEERING GEAR FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 190'].

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PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

F. M. LEAVITT. GYROSUOPIC STEERING GEAR FOR TORPEDOES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30,190 7.

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FRANK M. LEAVITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

GYROSCOPIC STEERING-GEAR FOR TORPEDOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed. April 30, 1907. Serial No. 371,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. Lnavrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroscopic Steering-Gear for Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gyroscopic steering mechanism for automobile torpedoes. It is designed to adapt the torpedo to wideangle aim, so that the torpedo may be aimed in a direction diverging by a wide angle from the course which it is designed to take, so that it must first steer in the arc of a circle through the number of degrees for which the instrument is preliminarily set before proceeding to steer in a substantially straight or direct course toward the target.

The present invention is designed to facilitate the preliminary setting of the gyroscopically-controlled device to prepare the torpedo for such wide-angle aim.

According to the present invention an adjustable disk or turn-table is carried onthe outer ring of the gyroscope, so that while this ring is held fast by any suitable locking device, the turn-table may be turned thereon through the required number of degrees. The turn-table is engaged frictionally with the ring and is turned by an adjusting means which engages it so as to connect it with the key socket or other device which is turned by the operator. This connection is preferably made by means of gearing. After the angular adjustment has been accomplished, it is necessary to separate the geared connec tion in order to leave the turn-table free so that it shall be carried by and turned with the ring of the gyroscope For this purpose the gearing is disconnected either at the time of unlocking the gyroscope or at any previous time.

The turn-table carries or constitutes the control-device which governs the steering mechanism. Thus instead of making the angular adjustment by turning the actuated mechanism around the gyroscope, the adjustment is made by turning upon the gyro scope the disk or turn-table which carries th controlling element.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a torpedo showing the gyroscope and its connected parts; Fig. '2 is a plan in horizontal section on the line 2'2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the torpedo in plan. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, let A designate the shell or hull of the torpedo and B the propeller shaft thereof driven from any suitable propelling engine.

O designates the gyroscope as a whole. The gyroscope may be of any usual construction, comprising as usual a fiy-wheel a turning in an inner ring I) which in turn is hung in an outer ring 0 pivoted-in a fixed frame d in any usual manner. The gyroscope may be set spinning by any suitable mechanism for that purpose. The particular means shown consists of a shaft D driven by gearing from the propeller shaft B, and engaging at its inner end the end of the spindle e of the gyroscope fly-wheel. The gyroscope may be provided with any suitable locking means for holding it immovable during the spinning up and for releasing it just before the launching of the torpedo. The locking means shown consists of the same shaft D, the end of which enters a neck f forming part of the ring I). Atthe proper time the shaft D is slid outward by suitable mechanism so as to disconnect it from the neck f and thereby release the gyroscope. This construction of spinning up and locking mechanism is that shown in U. S. Patent No. 814,969, granted March 13, 1906. Any other suitable or known mechanisms for these purposes may be substituted.

The gyroscope carries a controlling or actuating device mounted upon the outer ring 0. By the present invention this controlling device is formed upon or carried by an adjustable disk or turn-table E which engages a circular hub formed on the ring 0 in such manner as to form a frictional joint. The

control device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 OOH-545 sists of a cam or projection F. The controlled, or actuated mechanism upon which this cam acts is shown as a reciprocating dog, pallet or feeler G. These parts F and G may be of the construction set forth in U. S. Patent No. 795,045, granted July 18, 1905. controlled device G is applied in any suitable Way to-govern the steering engine or steering mechanism which operates the rudder.

In order to cause the torpedo to steer through a preliminary arc, it is necessary to turn the turn-table so as to bring the con- The v trolling device or cam F out of coincidence with the controlled device or dog G. A pre-' liminary displacement of the turn-table through any given number of degrees causes the steering apparatus to hold the rudder hard over on the appropriate side untilthe torpedo has steere through an arc of the same number of degrees, and thereby displaced the controlled device G through the same number of degrees so that it again reaches coincidence with the controlling device F; after which the normal steering action will take place and the torpedo will steer its direct course toward the target. This is illustrated in Fi 4, where the torpedo is launched in the irection shown in full lines and is to sail through a preliminary arc until it is headed toward the tar et at the angle shown in dotted lines. Pre 'minary to this the turn-table E is turned so that'its pointer is displaced from :2: around to y. Fig. 2 shows the parts before this displacement, the displacement of the pointer 42 to y will carry the cam F around an equal number of degrees to the position shown in dotted lines at F.

-For conveniently accomplishing this diswith the turn-table teeth and is pushed down by the spindle J to bring itinto mesh there with, and held so during the turning movement imparted by the key to the spindle and pinion and thereby to the turn-table... A spring h is provided which, upon release of t e key H, presses up the spindle J and thereby throws the pinion out of mesh with the turn-table teeth asshown in Fig. 1.

It is essential that the gyroscope be locked so that its ring 0 shall be held immovable durin the adjusting operation. This is accom-- phshed by any suitable locking device such as the one shown. upon the unlocking of the gyroscope the turn-table E shall be free from on agement with the pinion K for this purpose t e pinion K must be thrown out of mesh With the turntable teeth either before or coincidently with the unlocking movement. In the construction shown it is thrown out of engagement by the spring it immediately u on the end of the adjusting movement by t c release of the key H.

It is not essential to this invention that the It is also essential that.

controlling device he a cam F or that the controlled device be a dog G Any suitable actuating or connecting mechanism maybe employed and any suitable kind of steering engine or apparatus, may be used. In Fig. 5 is shown an electric connection such as that illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 785,425, Fig. 3. In

'this construction the turn-table E carries a The present invention provides a convenient and effective means by which the req-' uisite angular adjustment maybe made.

from the exterior of the torpedo and without the necessity of removing or disconnecting the gyroscope.-

What I claim is v 1. The combination with a gyroscope of a turn-table rotatively engaging its outer ring, locking means for holding said rin vfast, and adjustlng means independent of t e ring for engaging and turning the turn-table while the rlngis so held, I

2. The combination with a gyroscope of a turn-table carried by its outer ring and having a rotative frictional engagement therewith, locking means for holding said ring fast, and adjusting means independent of the ring for engaging and turning the turn-table while the ring is so held.

3. The combination with a gyroscope of a turn-table rotatively engaging its outer ring,

locking'means for holding said ring fast, and

adjusting means independent of the ring for engaging and turning the tum-table adapted to automatically disengage itself therefrom.

4. The combination with a gyroscope of a turn-table rotatively engaging its outer ring, locking means for holding said ring fast, and adjusting means for engaging and turning the turn-table comprising a geared connection, and movable to engage or disengage such connection.

5 The combination with agyroscope of a turn-table carried by its outer ring and'having a rotative frictional engagement therewith, and adjusting means independent of thglring for engaging and turning the turnta e'.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT.

' Witnesses:

C. S. SNIFFEN, B. W. STONE. 

